Briton 'entered US to molest young girl'

A British man has been charged with entering the United States to molest a six-year-old girl, authorities said.

John David Michael Brewer, from Plymouth, was detained in Minnesota after customs officials allegedly found a sexually suggestive photograph of a young girl in his luggage.

It is alleged that he had flown to Minneapolis St Paul International Airport, on December 13, to meet a woman who had said he could have a sexual relationship with both herself and her six-year-old niece.

Brewer is charged with aggravated sexual abuse on suspicion that he entered the state to "engage in a sexual act with a person who has not attained the age of 12 years".

According to a law enforcement statement, submitted as evidence, Brewer's bags were searched when he told a customs official that he had a previous conviction in Britain for "indecent contact with a minor".

Officials found the photograph of the child in a sexually suggestive pose, along with letters written to Brewer by the woman from Wisconsin, the statement said.

The document, written by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Agent, states that, after further questioning by officials, Brewer said his intentions on travelling were to "begin an adult relationship" with the woman on the understanding that he would also "have a sexual relationship" with her young niece.

Brewer, from Fairview Avenue, had flown to the United States from Iceland, on Iceland Air flight 653, customs officials said.

Brewer had declared on his entry papers that he had previously been convicted in Britain of indecently touching a five-year-old child, they said. He told them he had served three years probation for the offence.

He is expected to appear in court in Minneapolis later this week, although a date is yet to be set, said the Minnesota US District Attorney's Office.